Overview

Benign tumours often present in the thigh. With both benign tumours and malignant tumours patients often present to their doctor having noticed a mass in the affected compartment. As the posterior compartment is large and has relatively little constraint in terms of fibrous septa tumours can become very large before patients become aware of anything untoward. It is relatively uncommon for patients to present with pain. Pain can be a sign that the process is malignant rather than benign. Pain can indicate compression of the sciatic nerve. This is uncommon but can be experienced if the patient sits on a hard chair or sitting gin the car where the edge of the seat is often at the mid posterior thigh level.